(Juneau) - The Alaska State House today passed House Resolution 13,which encourages the Anchorage Assembly to rescind its 2008 actionreinstating the Anchorage Vehicle Inspection and Management, or I/M,Program. House Finance Committee Co-Chair Bill Stoltze,R-Chugiak/Mat-Su, sponsored the resolution, which passed by a vote of27 to 11 Wednesday. The resolution was not brought up forreconsideration, thereby ensuring passage.

"The I/M program was put in place at a time when air quality concernsin the South-central may have been more relevant. In the past,identifying over-polluting or unmaintained cars was an effective wayto make a difference. But that time has passed, and the Assembly,under different leadership in 2007, repealed the program. Thisassembly should do the same thing," Stoltze said.

(Juneau) - This week, House Majority Leader Kyle Johansen,R-Ketchikan, introduced House Joint Resolution 47, urging the federalgovernment to ease restrictions on small vessels, which are crucialcarriers to isolated communities and businesses in Alaska.

Federal law currently prohibits small vessels in Alaska to carryfuel, cargo and passengers simultaneously, which Leader Johansen saysis unrealistic due to Alaska's unique geography. "There are places inthe state that are inaccessible by large barges and must be reached bysmaller vessels," Johansen said.

(Juneau) - Representative Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, will participate in aglobal governance roundtable at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Gatto was invited by Dr. Scott Borgerson, CFR's Visiting Fellow forOcean Governance. The event is led by Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowskiand Mark Begich, and will focus on considering Alaska's role insetting national Arctic policy and determining Alaska's response toclimate change. The agenda includes discussions regarding PresidentObama's Interagency Policy Task Force, proposed federal legislationaffecting Arctic issues, state and local plans and private sectorinitiatives that could have impact on Alaska.

"I go to conferences across the nation and hear people advocatingpolicies that would devastate the Alaska way of life," Gatto said. "Weneed to hear first-hand what these groups are selling and we need toadvance our own plans, before they get everything they want at ourexpense."

Sponsor Statement: http://www.housemajority.org/spon.php?id=26hb315-317+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+HB 345 : Sam Schuyler Memorial Bridge Sponsored by Rep. Jay Ramras An Act designating the bridge to be built on the Dalton Highway at approximately mile post 308 as the Sam Schuyler Memorial Bridge.

Sponsor Statement: http://www.housemajority.org/spon.php?id=26hb345-334+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+HJR 40 : Cook Inlet/Kachemak Beluga Population Sponsored by Rep. Charisse Millett Opposing the proposed designation by the National Marine Fisheries Service of 3,000 square miles of upper Cook Inlet, the mid-inlet, all of the inlet's western shores, and Kachemak Bay as critical habitat for beluga whales.